Scott Payne grew up on a farm in the rural village of Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, not far from Boston and King’s Lynn (in Norfolk). Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD – only recently discovered in 2022 (his whole life made sense afterwards) – Scott developed a passion for storytelling and television drama, starting with an obsession for Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Doctor Who. He is keenly interested in politics and spends far too much time obsessing over the latest Westminster twists and turns, imagining what he would say on the Question Time panel. He is also passionate about mental health awareness, the environment, and issues regarding sexuality, gender and social mobility. He admires writers such as Russell T. Davies, Sally Wainwright, George RR Martin and James Graham, plus authors such as Patrick Ness, Naomi Alderman and Angie Thomas.
Scott first started writing as part of his BA honours degree in Scriptwriting for Film and Television at Bournemouth University, and he was named a Broadcast Hotshot in 2014. His writing credits include two seasons of The Worst Witch for CBBC/Netflix; YA series Mystic for TVNZ/Seven Network/CBBC; fantasy-drama series Rocket’s Island for CBBC; two seasons of teen comedy-drama The Lodge for Disney; and regular episodes of The Dumping Ground for CBBC, including the two-part opener for series 10B. Scott was also previously part of the writing team for three years on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. Scott has also recently written his first children’s book The Familiars.
For TV, Scott is currently developing a semi-autobiographical drama with producer Paul McKenzie about living with ADHD, and a children’s/YA drama series co-created with writer Dan Berlinka. He has previously developed drama projects with Slim Film & TV, Lime Pictures, Hartswood Films, Hat Trick Productions and Company Pictures.
| Television drama (broadcast): | |
|---|---|
| The Dumping Ground – Season 10 | CBBC Drama Returning writer for the children’s drama series (2021-2022) (2 x 30 minute episodes – double episode commission) |
| Mystic – Season 1 | Slim Film & Television / CBBC / TVNZ / The Seven Network Writer for the children’s drama series based on the book series ‘Pony Club Secrets’ (2020) (1 x 30 minute episode – and story conferences) |
| The Dumping Ground – Season 9 | CBBC Drama Writer for the children’s drama series (2020) (1 x 30 minute episode) |
| Worst Witch – Season 4 | CBBC / Netflix Returning writer for season 4 of the hit supernatural-drama series (2019) (2 x 30 minute episodes – and story conferences) |
| Worst Witch – Season 3 | CBBC / Netflix Writer for the third season of the children’s supernatural drama (2018) (2 x 30 minute episodes – and story conferences) |
| The Lodge – Season 2 | The Foundation / Disney UK Writer for the second season of the comedy-drama-musical series (2017) (2 x 30 minute episodes – and story conferences) |
| Hollyoaks | Lime Pictures / Channel 4 Core writer for the Channel 4 soap (2014 – 2016) (14 x 30 minute episodes commissioned – and story conferences) |
| The Lodge – Season 1 | The Foundation / Disney UK Writer for the first season of the teen comedy-drama series (2016) (1 x 30 minute episode – and story conferences) |
| Rocket’s Island – Season 3 | Lime Pictures / CBBC Writer for the third series of the children’s fantasy-drama (2015) (1 x 30 minute episode – and story conferences) |
| Original television drama series (in development): | |
|---|---|
| The Wash | Hat Trick Drama Original supernatural drama series |
| Piper’s Emporium | Television adaptation of the original children’s fantasy-adventure radio series Professor Phlegm and the Lost Treasure Hunt Co-written/created with Mog McIntyre, Sophie Petzal & Aaron Ferguson |
| Curfew | Company Pictures Teen dystopian drama series – under option |
| Feature film: | |
|---|---|
| Nickolai of the North | Gatehouse Entertainment Live-action family-feature film adaptation of the bestselling children’s novel by Lucy Daniel Raby |
| Original television drama series (previously in development) | |
|---|---|
| Crooks | Bentley Productions Crime serial about a team of reformed prisoners working at a motorway service station – pilot script commissioned |
| The Wiccan | Hartswood Film & Television Teen-supernatural drama series set in modern day Scotland |
| Doppelgangers | Slim Film & Television Drama series about a working-class family who discover they have exact doppelgangers |
| Two Little Vampires | Original children’s drama television pilot spec Shortlisted for the Sir Peter Ustinov Television Screenwriting Award Shortlisted for the BBC Writersroom ‘Heartlands’ Competition |
| Paracorp | My Daddy’s Company Fantasy-thriller television pilot spec Winner of the Alan Plater Screenwriting Prize |
| The Hunters | Original supernatural series pilot about a teenager who discovers there may be more to his brother’s death than meets the eye when his council estate becomes under threat from a group of vampires… (Spec script) |
| Radio: | |
|---|---|
| Professor Phlegm and the Lost Treasure Hunt | Fun Kids DAB Radio & Online Co-Creator/Writer/Script Editor of this children’s fantasy-adventure series Series 1: Wrote 10 episodes of a 10x3min series Series 2: Wrote 4 episodes of a 10x4min series |
| The Unprofessionals | Bournemouth Internet Radio Station / Nerve FM Creator/Head Writer/Script Editor of an open-submission sketch show Head Writer for Series 1 (3x30mins) Second series broadcast, third series in pre-production |
| Theatre: | |
|---|---|
| Is He a Bit Simon Jay? | Co-writer of the one-man-play starring Simon Jay – showcased at The Young Vic Freshworks Evening and The Soho Theatre and Etcetera Theatre London and then touring, culminating in a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014 |
| Man Feelings | Contributing sketch writer to the comedy play starring double act James Cottle & Kevin Kennedy Show performed at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2012 Previews at The Winchester, Bournemouth |
| Not the Adventures of Moleman | Contributing writer to a comedy sketch show performed at the Camden Fringe/Buxton Fringe Show performed at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2012 |
| Cause Celebre | The Poole Lighthouse Theatre Contributing writer to spoof pantomime production |
| Professional training: | |
|---|---|
| CBBC Interactive Drama Residential | Selected for the week-long intensive development training week which included interactive drama workshops and developing pitches to pitch directly to Cheryl Taylor, controller of CBBC (2013) |
| Bournemouth University | BA Honours in Scriptwriting for Film and Television (2011) Awarded 1st Class Honours |
| Nerve TV | Station Manager for the university channel, where responsibilities included commissioning new content for broadcast and managing a team of over thirty contributors |
| Awards: | |
|---|---|
| Broadcast Hotshot (2014) | |
| Winner of the Alan Plater Screenwriting Prize (2012) | |
| 3 SUBU (Student Union) Awards for ‘Innovation’ ‘Outstanding Contribution’ and ‘Dedication’ to Nerve TV. |